Robin Williams, the beloved actor and comedian, famously sought a role in the Harry Potter film franchise but encountered a significant barrier. The production team maintained a strict policy of casting British actors for principal roles.
Robin Williams and the Harry Potter Casting Controversy
When the Harry Potter films were announced, many actors, including Williams, expressed interest. Williams was particularly eager to join the project, even offering to work without compensation. However, he was informed that the casting would adhere to a British-only rule.
Initial Attempts to Join the Harry Potter Cast
In a 2001 interview, Robin Williams mentioned that he was interested in multiple roles for the first film, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.” His dream was to portray Rubeus Hagrid, a character eventually played by Robbie Coltrane.
Casting director Janet Hirshenson revealed that Williams had directly contacted director Chris Columbus. Unfortunately, the rule prevented Columbus from considering him. Hirshenson stated, “Once he said no to Robin, he wasn’t going to say yes to anybody else.”
Further Aspirations and the Character of Remus Lupin
Despite the initial rejection, Williams remained hopeful. He reached out to Columbus again to discuss the possibility of portraying Remus Lupin in one of the later films. Columbus recounted the conversation, acknowledging Williams’s enthusiasm but reiterating the limitations of their casting policy.
The character of Remus Lupin was eventually portrayed by David Thewlis in “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” (2004). Columbus suggested that Williams’s interpretation would have been remarkable, saying, “It would have been a different interpretation.”
The Strict British Casting Policy
The Harry Potter franchise strictly adhered to its British casting rule, with only a few exceptions. Columbus’s daughter appeared in cameo roles in the first two films but did not have any speaking lines. Furthermore, while Verne Troyer played Griphook in “Philosopher’s Stone,” his character’s voice was provided by Warwick Davis, who later took over the role in the final two films.
Though Robin Williams never joined the Harry Potter cast, his passion for the project left a lasting impression. He even quipped about a potential future role, humorously suggesting he could play a part if Harry became president after attending Yale.
